Second Chances 3

I don't own Bones

Season 2 AU

To all of you that reviewed, thanks.

Brennan woke up with a pounding headache. She looked around the room and tried to figure out where she was. It was clear this wasn't her apartment but for the life of her she couldn't figure out where she ended up last night. As she got up to look around, she suddenly notices how big the room is around her. She also notices the four-poster bed with exquisite linens. She had never seen such an extravagant bedroom before. Suddenly, she heard someone knocking.

"Are you alright sweetie?" Angela says as she opens the door.

Tempe looks at her and sighs in relief.

"I am now Ange. Where are we?" she says

Angela smiles and says, " Where in Jack's mansion. Or I guess you can call it Chez Angela since I live here as well."

"I'm glad you're with Jack but, I never thought I'd see you living in a place like this."

"I know. It goes against my artist sensibilities. But, I would gladly make some sacrifices for love." Angela says smiling.

Brennan gets up and stretches.

"Why don't you say we get some coffee and girl talk on the way to your apartment."

Brennan yawns and says, "That would be great. I need a cup right now."

Fifteen minutes later they pulled up to a diner. They take a seat and order some coffee.

"So, I assume that you know. I've never seen you consume that much alcohol before." Angela states.

"Yeah, I heard a little at the lab and Booth told me about her when we got to the bar. Why didn't you me Ange?"

Angela takes a sip of coffee and looks at her friend.

"Would it have made a difference? Would you have dropped everything and come home if you knew?"

Tempe looks down at her cup and says, "No."

"That's why I didn't tell you sweetie. Besides, I couldn't run interference and run off every female I saw him with. He's too good of a man. The female population was bound to notice he was single. Women were coming left and right to claim him." Angela says with a smirk.

"I know Ange. I just wish it didn't take me so long to figure it out."

"You already knew Bren. You were just too scared to do anything about it."

" I know." She says in a whisper.

Angela looks at her and says, "Hey, I did run off three of them while you were gone. The only reason this one stayed is because she had help."

Brennan can just see Angela running off potential mates. She begins to form a smile at the thought.

"What should I do Ange? I've finally found the courage to go after him and he's not available. Should I just tell him how I feel? Do you think he feels the same?"

Angela looks at her friend and studies her.

"Listen Bren, I have to know. How do you feel about Booth?"

Tempe looked her in the eye. Angela's gaze was unsettling.

"Isn't it obvious how I feel about him?"

"I need to hear the words Bren. I can't give you my help for anything less."

She looks at Angela. She knew what Angela wanted. Ange wasn't going to help her if she didn't say the words.

Brennan took a deep breath.

"I love him Ange. I never knew what love was until I realized I lost it." Her eyes become glassy. "When I was out there he was all I thought about. I was with Sully but I knew he wasn't the one for me. I traveled the world thinking I could find the missing piece that would make my life whole and when I realized where it was, it was too late. Please, help me."

Angela looked at her friend and found what she wanted. The sound of Brennan being so broken brought a tear to Angela's eyes. Now that she knew what Brennan wanted, she had no choice but to help her.

"Alright sweetie, I'll help you but you have to do as I tell you. It's not going to be easy and it's not going to be quick. In fact, you might not get what you want but in the end I think I can give you the best chance for getting him back."

"Thanks Ange. I'll do anything to get him back."

"It's not going to be easy Bren. I think Booth's almost to the point of asking her to move in. You're going to have to run her off like you did Tessa."

"How do I do that? I don't remember running Tessa off. Why can't I just tell Booth how I feel."

"No Bren. That's not the way to do this."

"Why not?"

"Because, it's too quick and he's in love with someone else."

"So what? He cared about me before and he still cares about me!"

Angela shakes her head.

"I don't doubt that he still cares about you sweetie but, you don't know what it was like when you left. He was depressed for months. He used to spend hours sitting in your office wondering where you were, what you were doing. Then one day, I saw him shut your office door. That was nine months ago and I haven't seen him enter your office since."

Brennan starts to cry. She wipes the tears away with a napkin.

Angela looks at her friend and begins again.

"He let you go that day. He gave up delusions he had of you and him. In fact, I'm pretty sure he thought you weren't coming back." Angela pauses, " And even if you did, he was pretty sure you weren't coming back, for him."

The last sentence was like a dagger to the heart. Angela flinched. She knew that the last statement was harsh but she had to know what she was up against.

"How can he think that? I told him I would come back. He knew it was just a year. My life and everyone I cared about was here. I would never leave him for long. Plus, he told me to go!" Brennan said trying to defend herself. Her voice sounded hollow, even to her.

Angela knew she was just rationalizing her actions but rationalizing wasn't going to get Booth back. She had to know what it was like for Booth. If she tried to rationalize things with Booth, when they inevitably had a talk about her sabbatical, it would end badly for Brennan.

"Honey, you did leave. A year is a pretty long time. Imagine how you'd feel if Booth sailed away with Cam. You were in love with him but you didn't trust him to stay. You left before he did."

Brennan heard Angela's words and started sobbing. She knew her words were true. She had thought the same thing but, having someone say it out loud broke her. She thought back to that day she sailed away. When they reached the channel's opening she looked back at the dock. She saw his familiar outline standing on the pier. She realized that if the situation were reversed, she would never have that much strength. It was one of the reasons she left with Sully. She had to leave before Booth did, because, if Booth ever left it would destroy her.

Angela moves over to her side of the booth and hugs her. After a minute Tempe says,

"Angela what do I do?"

"Well, we go to your apartment, unpack, and eat tons of ice cream. We'll figure out what to do with Booth while we're unpacking. Okay?"

Tempe nods and let's go of Angela.

"Okay."

So what do you think? Was I too hard on Bone? More importantly, was this chapter too mushy?